Red Cards
Filed under: MLS, Red Cards
I understand that being a Major League Soccer Referee is a no win situation. If you make a call that influences the game in any way, shape or form, you’ve got 11 players on the field extremely pissed at you. Then throw in a coaching staff, substitutes and (depending on where the game is) thousands of fans, that’s a lot of pressure.
But the biggest question I have and never understood is how do they define Red Card Rulings?
Intent, the Tackle or the Injury.
Pretty Simple you’d think right? These are the three things that are all taken in account, but never clearly defined within the rules of MLS (and obviously you always have to take in account the Human Error factor).
After watching the first two rounds of MLS and seeing the 5 Red Cards issued (Xavier vs Colorado, O’Brien vs LA, Larentowicz vs Chicago, Harmse vs DC and Parke vs C-Bus), I’m convinced we’ve seen all three (Intent, Tackle or Injury) accounted for, but not all necessarily deserved.
Let’s go over three of these -
1. Ciaran O’Brien - 1st game of the season for the Colorado Rapids, at home against the Galaxy, debut for the 1st Round draft pick, who entered the match in the 71st minute and after Colorado scored their 4th goal, O’Brien tackled Carlos Ruiz in the 90+ minute from behind/side which resulted in Ruiz tearing his MCL. Was this tackle Red Card worthy or just a clumsy tackle made a young player trying to make a difference in a match already decided, but wanting to earn a spot for the next match? I think O’Brien knew right away by raising his right hand up immediately that it was a tackle he shouldn’t have made.
2. Jeff Larentowicz - After New England gave up a goal in just the 4th minute on the road to the Chicago Fire, Larentowicz was ejected for a tackle on Brandon Prideaux in Chicago’s half in the 7th. A lot has been said about this tackle, but at that point in the match and where the tackle took place, I’m not so sure about the decision. Yes, it was a bookable offense, but so early in the match to deserve a red after already being down 1-nil? Intent to injure? Not so sure and you’ve just given the game to Chicago, not matter what. Maybe an immediate Yellow and a conversation between the Referee and Larentowicz would have been more suitable (we do see that kind of tackle every weekend on Fox Soccer Channel whether it’s English or Italian League)
3. Kevin Harmse - Down 2-nil on the road to DC, a neat little combination between Carl Robinson and Danny Dichio that dropped back to Harmse, a big first touch and then a face to face, leading over the ball tackle with studs showing and a left leg following through with all his body weight behind it taking out Gonzalo Peralta. On reputation alone, you’d think this was a worthy decision but Harmse’ tackle was a straight Red as his intent wasn’t to win the ball, but to get a piece of the player (paging Eduardo).
There will always be mistakes made by Referees, but as Clive Charles used to say “the good ones are never remembered after a match.”
image via Eteamz
Some thoughts from a former competitive player & current referee…Intent will never enter into the decision (the referee cannot enter the mind of the player)…The 7 red card offenses are simply based on the result of the action. The referee cannot allow the time of the match to determine the reaction to a Serious Foul Play offense, if you really think of what the term fairness means (i.e. consistent application of the laws)…Some from the still shots from the referees angle of Larentowiczs challenge are chilling & make it readily evident why the red card was warranted…There is a danger to drawing comparisons of one referee decision (i.e. I’ve seen that challenge go unpunished or punished less severly) to another set of circumstances. You’ve heard the term that a rising tide lifts all boats, keep in mind, the opposite is also true.
The desire is fair & consistent application of the laws of the game, no question. Was Pablos Red v. Italy fair (I could argue that it was less dangerous than Larentowiczs attempted tackle)? Not meaning to ramble, but I believe MLS has communicated that they are cracking down on some areas of behaviour. If their initiative has legs, it will be better for all involved. IMHO.
Jim,
Agreed, but I think the general consensus is a little more common sense refereeing.
Unfortunately bias and intent do enter the minds of the referee, although they’d like to think/say it doesn’t (i.e. any major player like say Blanco or Beckham, where tackles and/or dissent go unpunished because of stature and that’s ok, because fans are there to see them, not a Developmental player. Remember Marco Etcheverry?)..
I have the utmost respect for the job that’s placed ahead of them every single week and if behavior is the first target (language and gesturing), then so be it.
Dunny, Good points & I agree that common sense is paramount to effective whistle blowing. You’ve certainly experienced the game @ levels I’ve not, yet having worked with a FIFA & numerous National refs, I’ve not noticed bias…certainly knowledge of tendancies. It is interesting to watch how personalities come into play (btw, Etcheverry & El Pibe had been 2 of my favorite players in MLS history). The behaviour that I hope MLS is working on improving are the lunging/high/dangerous tackles. For it to work, the action, not the result must be sanctioned. I’m admittedly naive regarding the professional game, but as a fan I hope it works. I agree that I pay & watch to see the stars, but if a charged up developmental player is allowed to do the number on Ruiz’s knee without serious ramifications, then all we have left is a developmental league.
BTW, keep doing what you’re doing. This is without a doubt a blog that I truly enjoy.
Thanks man. We’re trying to bring something a bit different to the table.
[…] red cards have stirred conversation even this early in the season: The Original Winger held forth on several of individual incidents just last Tuesday…O’Brien’s among […]